Amusement device having adjustable pricing tiers

Abstract

A method of assigning electronic games to pricing tiers in an amusement device includes the steps of receiving a first pricing definition and a second pricing definition. The first pricing definition includes a first pricing tier and a first cost value specifying a first minimum quantity of playable credits required for accessing a first electronic game and the second pricing definition includes a second pricing tier and a second cost value specifying a second minimum quantity of playable credits required for accessing a third electronic game. The method also includes receiving a first assignment of the first electronic game and a second electronic game to the first pricing tier and receiving a second assignment of the third electronic game to the second pricing tier. The first cost value is reassigned to a reassigned first cost value. The reassigned first cost value the second cost value or a third cost value.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is entitled to priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 510,275, filed Jul. 21, 2011, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present application relates generally to electronic amusement devices and systems. More particularly, the present application is preferably directed to an amusement system having adjustable pricing tiers for games playable on the amusement system.[0003]Amusement devices having electronic games for computers and touchscreens or other types of amusement devices are generally known in the art. Amusement devices, such as game machines, which allow a user to select games from a video display are known in the art, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,787 (“Itkis”), U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,717 (“Houriet, Jr., et al.”), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,799 (“Houriet, Jr., et al.”), each of which shows a touchsc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a method and device for assigning electronic games to pricing tiers in an amusement device. The device stores a plurality of electronic games and receives a pricing definition for each pricing ticket, which includes an identification value and a minimum quantity of playable credits required for accessing an electronic game. The method allows users to assign one or more electronic games to a pricing tier, based on their preferences. The technical effects of this patent include improved user experience and more efficient use of hardware resources.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, reprogramming or reassigning the amount of currency required to operate a particular game on a particular machine is a repetitive and time-consuming process, because each individual game must be reprogrammed or reassigned individually on each machine.

The problem is compounded for operators having amusement devices with large quantities of games and / or operators having large quantities of amusement devices in different locations.

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